Friction fiber sleeve retraction system

Abstract

An implantable system for endoluminal delivery of expandable devices having one or more sleeves and one or more sleeve pull back lines. The sleeve pull back lines enable retraction of the one or more sleeves, with various benefits resulting therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An implantable system comprising:
 an endoluminal device having a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a flexible constraining sleeve surrounding the endoluminal device; 
 a coupling member releasably coupled to the constraining sleeve to retain the endoluminal device toward a delivery configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery; and 
 a sleeve pull back line engaged with the constraining sleeve, the sleeve pull back line disposed between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device and extending from the distal end of endoluminal device towards and beyond the proximal end, towards the distal end exterior to the constraining sleeve, back towards the proximal end exterior to the constraining sleeve, and back towards the distal end of the endoluminal device between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device to engage the flexible constraining sleeve, the sleeve pull back line being configured to generate frictional force between the sleeve pull back line and the constraining sleeve in response to applying tension to the sleeve pull back line thereby displacing a portion of the constraining sleeve relative to the endoluminal device. 
 
     
     
       2. The implantable system of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve pull back line engages a proximal end of the constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       3. The implantable system of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve pull back line doubles back after engaging the proximal end of the constraining sleeve and engages a distal end of the constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The implantable system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member engages a plurality of holes along opposing and parallel edges of the constraining sleeve, and the sleeve pull back line comprises a knot at or near a proximal end of the endoluminal device. 
     
     
       5. The implantable system of  claim 4 , wherein tension applied to the coupling member releases the constraining sleeve and allows the endoluminal device to expand. 
     
     
       6. The implantable system of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling member and the sleeve pull back line are configured to have tension applied to the coupling member and the sleeve pull back line simultaneously. 
     
     
       7. The implantable system of  claim 4  wherein the constraining sleeve is a first constraining sleeve, and further comprising a second constraining sleeve, wherein the first constraining sleeve concentrically surrounds the second constraining sleeve, and wherein the sleeve pull back line is disposed between the second constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device. 
     
     
       8. The implantable system of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one sleeve coupling loop, wherein the sleeve coupling loop removably couples the first constraining sleeve and the second constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The implantable system of  claim 8 , comprising a first coupling loop and a second coupling loop, wherein the first coupling loop is oriented near a proximal end of the endoluminal device, and the second coupling loop is oriented near a distal end of the endoluminal device. 
     
     
       10. The implantable system of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve pull back line is moveably engaged to one of the first constraining sleeve and second constraining sleeve through a hole. 
     
     
       11. The implantable system of  claim 7  wherein sleeve pull back line is disposed between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device and extending from the distal end of endoluminal device towards and beyond the proximal end, towards the distal end between the first constraining sleeve and the second constraining sleeve, back towards the proximal end between the first constraining sleeve and the second constraining sleeve, and back towards the distal end of the endoluminal device between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device to engage the flexible constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       12. The implantable system of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve pull back line is removeable. 
     
     
       13. The implantable system of  claim 1 , wherein the endoluminal device is one of a stent, graft, filter, and valve. 
     
     
       14. The implantable system of  claim 1  wherein the constraining sleeve is comprised of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       15. The implantable system of  claim 7  wherein the second constraining sleeve is comprised of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       16. The implantable system of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve pull back line comprises a knot between a first portion extending towards the distal end exterior to the constraining sleeve and a second portion extending back towards the proximal end exterior to the constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       17. An implantable system comprising:
 an endoluminal device having a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a flexible constraining sleeve surrounding the endoluminal device; 
 a coupling member releasably coupled to the constraining sleeve to retain the endoluminal device toward a delivery configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery; and 
 a sleeve pull back line engaged with the constraining sleeve, the sleeve pull back line disposed between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device and extending from the distal end of endoluminal device towards and beyond the proximal end, towards the distal end exterior to the constraining sleeve, back towards the proximal end exterior to the constraining sleeve, and back towards the distal end of the endoluminal device between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device to engage the flexible constraining sleeve. 
 
     
     
       18. The implantable system of  claim 17  wherein the constraining sleeve is a first constraining sleeve, and further comprising a second constraining sleeve, wherein the first constraining sleeve concentrically surrounds the second constraining sleeve, and wherein the sleeve pull back line is disposed between the second constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device. 
     
     
       19. The implantable system of  claim 18  wherein sleeve pull back line is disposed between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device and extending from the distal end of endoluminal device towards and beyond the proximal end, towards the distal end between the first constraining sleeve and the second constraining sleeve, back towards the proximal end between the first constraining sleeve and the second constraining sleeve, and back towards the distal end of the endoluminal device between the constraining sleeve and the endoluminal device to engage the flexible constraining sleeve. 
     
     
       20. The implantable system of  claim 17 , wherein the sleeve pull back line comprises a knot between a first portion extending towards the distal end exterior to the constraining sleeve and a second portion extending back towards the proximal end exterior to the constraining sleeve.